Merton "Perk" Perkins, 74, of Lane Rd., Raymond, NH, died June 4, 2008 at Pleasant Valley Nursing Home in Derry, NH, following a period of declining health. He was born in Manchester, NH, on November 12, 1933 to Merton A. and Edna A. (Curtis) Perkins, Sr. He attended school in Manchester and then joined the Army where he spent many years in Germany followed by four years in the National Guard. He worked as a Diesel Mechanic for many companies, retiring from Idelnot Dairy and Goffstown Trucking Co. He was a founding member of the MAGS Association, where he was President twice, served on the Board of Directors, and in May of 2008 was made an Honorary Life Member on the Board of Directors.
Family members include his wife of 44 years, Bernice (McFarland) Perkins of Raymond; four sons, Merton A. Perkins, III, of Ohio, Eugene Barnes and Laurie Fortier of Raymond, Paul Perkins of Florida, and Perry Perkins of Virginia; four daughters, Cheryl and William Morrill of Salem, NH, Laurie and Kenneth Desmaris of Hillsboro, NH, Bonnie and Michael Smith of Derry, and Penny Perkins and Rick Johnson of Fitchburg MA; several grandchildren; three sisters, Dorothy Nye of Auburn, NH and Arizona, Joan Seifert and Janice Perkins, both of Texas; one brother, Ronald Perkins of Louisiana; several aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and cousins; and his long time friends Albert "Porky" and Ester Battistelli. He will be remembered as a loving husband, father and grandfather, and for the loving affection he had for his dogs. The family would like to thank the staff of CMC Hospital, Adventa Hospice Service and Pleasant Valley Nursing Home for their wonderful care of Merton.
There are no calling hours. Following cremation, a memorial service was held at Great Hill Cemetery, Rt. 121A in Chester, NH on Monday, June 9, 2008 at 11:00am.
Memorial donations may be made to Adventa Hospice Services, IE Commons Drive, Unit 33, Londonderry, NH 03053. The Peabody Funeral Homes and Crematorium, 15 Birch St., Derry is handling the arrangements.